Add new values to select list or other table from row input

Suggestion Box
1

This is I believe one of the major feature I would need for a quick tagging system.

Workflow for a market survey :

  • Make a table with 2 columns : Links (text format) and Tags (select list or better, look up from table)
  • Past links in the first column
  • Then, I would love to be able to add existing values from list or table AND be able to add new values in this column that would be updated in the select list or the watched table.

I also tried to add a colour to the tags, but it doesn’t work yet. I tried to highlight the tag in the tag table, but the picked tag in a look up from table didn’t have the colour from the original table.
What would be great is a way to colour the tag with a large colour wheel or random colours.

Thanks!

7 Likes
2

A related suggestion which might help in your situation as well would simply be to have an option for a Select List where it is permissible to add any value to a cell and then that new value is automatically added to the select list for future use.

3 Likes
3

I encounter a lot of situations where I need this feature. It’s a blocker for me and the workarounds needs too much work.

3 Likes
4

+1, just ran into that need again.

5

Hello,
As a new Coda user i also put that on my wish list.
Regards

6

I think this is working now! :clap:t4::ok_man:t4::no_good_man:t4::raised_hands:t4:

4 Likes
7

Really? Have to try this!

1 Like
8

Hi folks,

Just a quick note to let you know that we just completed the first phase of support for this request.

We handle two classes of source values:

  • Simple list of values - this class of formula is already well supported in the existing config UX as a simple comma-separated list of values. Adding a new value from the drop down magically updates the source values for you.
  • Linked tables where the display column value is non-calculated. When the add value option is selected, a row is created in the target with the display column value set to the display text.

To reduce the likelihood a user could inadvertently add a value, we add speed bump in the UX; hitting ENTER will select the “add value option” and ENTER again adds it. You can also directly click the add option or cursor down and hit ENTER to add it.

I’m currently in the process of working on a few other extensions for table based formulas too. Hoping to get that wrapped within the next week.

Hope you all enjoy it! Please keep the suggestions and feedback coming.

Nigel.

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7 Likes
9

Wow @nigel ! This is such a great feature! I was exactly wondering when add values to linked tables would come, you just made it!

1 Like
10

Hi folks, we just finished part two of this work which adds support for select controls with table based formulas.

Classes supported:

  • Table1
  • Table1.Col1
  • Table1.Filter(Area = thisRow.Area)
  • Table1.Filter(Area = thisRow.Area).Col1

As a bonus, when the select formulas has a filtered expression, we extract the filter formula and infer default values on the target lookup table. This uses the same level of support for filtered views.

Here’s a teaser

Screen%20Recording%202018-11-13%20at%2001.19%20PM.gif1241×968 493 KB

This new support is already enabled – let us know if you run into any issues!

Nigel.

5 Likes
11

This is awesome!! Thanks :pray:

1 Like
12

This is magic!

@nigel there is another teaser here, it seems that you can add a table side by side with another table. Is this going to be released?

13

Dear Nigel,

This is unbelievable helpful while creating a relational base.
I tried to reproduce your sample, and somehow I didn’t manage to get it working.

It could be that I made a mistake in the formula, as we have a Subarea table and a Subarea column in a table that’s not visible it’s name.

This is the formula I have been using:

Subarea?(Area=thisRow.Area)

Thanks in advance for your support giving more details to better understand the approach.

Kind regards,
//JP

Maybe it should be moved to the section “Tips and Hacks” :bulb:

14

I think you can do that since ever by just deleting the break and adjust the width so both fit in the page, but it does look weird sometimes

1 Like
15

Yes, block object like tables have always supported adjacent alignment. They typically wrap due to size.

16

Hi Jean,

In my example, I have things setup as:

  • Area: a simple select column with values “Fruit, Cars, …”. It starts empty and you dynamically add new values to it
  • SubArea: a select column with formulas Subarea?(Area = thisRow.Area). Make sure you set the display column to the name of the sub-area

Does that work for you?

Nigel.

1 Like
17

Dear Nigel,

I have just given you access to the doc where I reproduced your example, but unfortunately can’t make it.

Would you mind to give me a helping hand?

Thanks in advance,

//JP

18

Hi JP,

I just made a few changes to your document:

  • Simplified to two tables - the source table (which you’re tagging/marking with subareas) and a SubArea table
  • SubArea has column “Area” which is text and “SubArea” as the display column also text
  • The source table “Area” column is a simple select - not linked to any table. The “SubArea” table is a lookup select with a formula “thisDocument.SubArea?(Area = thisRow.Area)”.

Hope that helps,
Nigel.

3 Likes
19

Dear Nigel,

Works like a shine. :stars:

Important: To add the new sub-area, it should be added by clicking on the + in the menu that appears next to your new chosen sub-area. :bulb:

Thanks for your time,
//JP

1 Like
20

Hey @nigel!
The last perfection would be to have to same options when the list column is grouped.
Actually if I create a new group and name it, it doesn’t add this new value to the list.

As a side note I would love improvements for the grouping feature. It’s great but lack options, like colors, formatting and so on.

Thanks!